Mimicking birdsongs

Researchers develop simple device to recreate complex birdsongs

By Leah Burrows

(CAMBRIDGE, Mass) —Researchers at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a simple device that mimics complex birdsongs. The device, developed by the group of Wyss Core Faculty member L. Mahadevan, Ph.D., uses air blown through a stretched rubber tube to recreate birdsongs found in nature, including the songs of Zebra and Bengalese finches.

A new study finds that the inherent complexity in birdsongs might actually be the result of a simple controllable instability in the structure of the specialized organ used to create song. Credit: Harvard SEAS

The study finds that the inherent complexity in birdsongs might actually be the result of a simple controllable instability in the structure of the specialized organ used to create song, known as a syrinx.

The research suggests that birds may have harnessed the physical properties of a soft material to produce and control birdsong.

“Our study adds to the growing realization that physical instabilities with rich nonlinear dynamics, when coupled to relatively simple control mechanisms, may provide a mechanism for birds to begin to create complex behavior by taking advantage of their physical, material nature,” said Mahadevan.

The research, published recently in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, was co-authored with Aryesh Mukherjee, Ph.D. and Shreyas Mandre, Ph.D., both former group members of the lab, and was partially supported by the MacArthur Foundation. Mahadevan is also the Lola England de Valpine Professor of Applied Mathematics, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, and Professor of Physics at SEAS.

This video model shows a localized depression being created at the location of the linear probe that pushes down on the tube. This leads to a propagating pulse, followed by a short rest period, and then the cycle repeats. Credit: Harvard SEAS” Bird Song Gif: “A close-up of the solitary wave as it moves through the tube, imaged by placing a mirror to show the mouth of the tube. Following a refractory period, the process repeats itself. Credit: Harvard SEAS

To hear the birdsongs and learn more about the research, listen to the latest episode of the Science@SEAS podcast below. Scroll down for a transcript of the episode.

Transcript:

Ah, the sounds of nature. Water running, bird singing, trees rustling. But what if I told you one of those sounds wasn’t real.

Those birdsongs are actually coming from a simple rubber tube.

Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have recreated complex bird songs using simple soft materials and some mathematical modeling.

Listen to the song of a vireo.

Now, listen to the same song, recreated in a lab.

Here is a real Bengalese Finch.

And here is the copy.

In nature, birds perform these complex vocalizations with a specialized organ called a syrinx — which comes from the Greek word for pan pipes. Muscles surrounding the syrinx control the vibrations as air moves through the vocal tract.

For years, researchers believed that birds had to learn complicated neurological controls to produce songs, like this zebra finch call:

This new research challenges that idea.

Led by Professor L. Mahadevan, the researchers broke down the complex, vocal gymnastics performed by birds into a set of simple biomechanical and control tasks. They found that the inherent complexity in birdsong might actually be the result of a simple controllable instability in the structure of the syrinx.

The researchers built an artificial syrinx out of a rubber tube and, with the help of an equation that optimizes birdsong mimicry, recreated songs from various species.

Listen to their recreation of that zebra finch song.

The research suggests that by harnessing the physical properties of a soft materials — specifically its instabilities — developing organisms may have found a way a simpler way to create complex behavior.

The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University (http://wyss.harvard.edu) uses Nature’s design principles to develop bioinspired materials and devices that will transform medicine and create a more sustainable world. Wyss researchers are developing innovative new engineering solutions for healthcare, energy, architecture, robotics, and manufacturing that are translated into commercial products and therapies through collaborations with clinical investigators, corporate alliances, and formation of new startups. The Wyss Institute creates transformative technological breakthroughs by engaging in high risk research, and crosses disciplinary and institutional barriers, working as an alliance that includes Harvard’s Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Arts & Sciences and Design, and in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston University, Tufts University, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, University of Zurich and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (http://seas.harvard.edu) serves as the connector and integrator of Harvard’s teaching and research efforts in engineering, applied sciences, and technology. Through collaboration with researchers from all parts of Harvard, other universities, and corporate and foundational partners, we bring discovery and innovation directly to bear on improving human life and society.